I love the limitless possibilities I get whenever I open up my journal and start to write about anything that comes to mind. Whether I continue writing an already started essay, short story, or journal entry, I need writing as a way to destress. I started writing last summer when I was camping in Canada, and I wanted to record the natural beauty in a journal I had brought along. "On the fourth day of our journey through the Alsek River, we arrive. Its majesty is somewhat hidden in the Yukon, concealing it from the world. Veiled, its beauty has mirrored my own journey. We had made camp at Lowell Lake the previous night, and we hiked up the dangerous unbeaten path to see the lake, the receding glaciers, and the river all as one. After six hours of treacherous hiking, we arrived at the viewpoint. Words or pictures could never bring to life the natural beauty I witnessed over the surrounding lands." I wrote that when I was on the Alsek River. Writing has enabled me to bring to light things that I couldn't otherwise express in conversation. Writing brings me a sense of calm as if nothing else matters in the world except for the words on the page. All my outside troubles begin to fade, and when I stop writing, I return with a clear mind, ready to confront my obstacles. Even though I have mostly written for personal use and enjoyment, that doesn't mean I haven't wanted to improve my writing skills or share it with others. I have begun to think of a political thriller novel that I would like to write and publish. I have begun to think of the storyline, and I can feel myself getting excited in anticipation. In order to write one at a high enough level for people's enjoyment, I would have to improve my writing. That is why I would like to pursue writing classes in college: so that I can prepare myself for such a task. Furthering my education in this field would greatly improve my abilities to write, which will help me when I journal. A clearer voice to express my thoughts and feelings would render me even more at peace than before. I will still continue to write in my journal by hand, however, because I feel a much greater appreciation for my words when I am the one writing them. Moreover, I don't like to type out such emotionally important things. Thus, the rule of "some things are better done by hand" applies to my writing. I must admit something. I didn't always like to write. I was that guy that would add so much fluff to essays so that I would meet the required word count. But with my discovery of a new use for this skill, I did a complete turnaround. To me, writing means so much more than words on the page. Sometimes, it is one of the only ways I cope and destress when I have had a long day or when I need to distract my mind a bit. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. I could certainly use the financial help, but I hope you will find me worthy of this educational aid.

I have a passion for bringing out the best in others and ensuring that things go as smoothly as possible. As the primary leader of several organizations (Swim Team, Chess Club, Karate, Boy Scouts, and others), I have great responsibilities to make sure everyone I represent has what they need for success. Whether it’s motivating a teammate in the pool with an encouraging word right before a race or leading the youngest members through the wilderness, I support everyone I can in pursuing their goals. As the president of my school's Chess Club, I help organize competitions and improve weaker players' strategies. In martial arts, I support students by leading classes through techniques and physical training. Boy Scouts has especially enabled me to help young men in the troop. I find Scouts to be a great place for brotherhood, camaraderie, and adventurous fun. Through my Eagle Project, I have been able to give back more to my community by helping build sanctuaries for birds in my area. Birds in my area have had a lot of their natural habitat destroyed, and building birdhouses and other structures helps support the populations and build bird diversity. My support of others isn’t limited to extracurriculars or the classroom. I’ve been called in the late hours of the night for help when someone needs a listening ear or assistance with other issues. Once, I was called at 3:00 AM by someone from school who needed help with a massive homework problem the day before a final exam. I also support the structure of my household due to my parents' travel for work. I regularly drive my siblings to their activities, cook dinner, and handle other household tasks. Specifically related to cyberbullying, I have made a big impact in my Boy Scout troop by helping instruct new scouts on the dangers of the Internet. As a requirement for rank advancement, all scouts must go through cyber training. I volunteer frequently to take up the role of instructor in these instructional sessions so that I can share my experiences online and give a more personal touch. This personal touch is what really resonates and is what I feel helps give the greatest impact on young men. Through my scouting career, I have been promoted to a senior instructor on many instructional values, but one I have fully committed myself to has definitely been on cyber safety. I have had friends who have suffered after seeing the wrong things online, and since then, I have tried to protect as many people as I can. The troop is where I feel I can do the most good, which is why I have given it my all ever since I was asked to instruct for the first time. In order to continue helping others, I plan to pursue a career in public office to represent others and lead. I would especially like to address the growing inequality in the U.S. To help others to my fullest potential, I need to pursue higher education that will help me understand and address these issues. This higher education comes at a heavy financial cost, especially as I strive for a top-tier college. I will have to spend about 80k a year to get my bachelor's degree. This heavy financial risk, however great the potential for success is, must be mitigated in order for me to guarantee success. I thank you for having this scholarship on such an important issue, and I hope you will find me worthy of the financial help. Thank you very much for considering my application.

My top current university choices that I feel would best benefit me in pursuing my desired career would be Georgetown University, University of Chicago, and University of Pennsylvania. Ever since I can remember, I was interested in economics, finance and politics. Within these disciplines, areas of study would be a double major in finance and economics, and a minor in political science. Business has always fascinated me with its aspects in negotiation, economics and math. Currently I am interested in economics and financial analytics since these two combine my passion for business with my interest in the usage of math and logic. A school with a strong business program will fit my interest in these areas. Economics is another that I frequently research on my own time: I read internal governmental memos and watch educational videos, such as Johnny Harris, on geopolitics to get a broader understanding of its effects. Currently my goal is to enter politics after an initial career in the business sector, preferably finance. Ever since I was six years old I have continuously planned out how to achieve my goals and every time they changed or evolved, I would adapt or reconstruct my plan. My career would start after college, hopefully with a network of future politicians or professionals in the sector, and enter a 4-6 year career in business finance. My experience in the industry would prepare me to apply hypotheticals learned in college. With a proficient understanding of the economy and the market, I would campaign for a congressional position. Throughout my political career, I would serve on congressional committees that would link my market knowledge to potential legislation and policy. To finish my career, I aspire to join the President's cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury or Secretary of State. But my career in politics wouldn't be for self-serving purposes, I want to enter politics and government to create direct change in people's lives. To help others to my fullest potential, I need to pursue higher education that will help me understand and address these issues. I recently spent my summer at Harvard Summer School studying inequality in an economics class. The experience was amazing and has fully motivated me to pursue higher education. By representing people in government, I could directly influence policies that would help underrepresented communities. The journey I embarked on during my freshman year will undoubtedly be filled with continued adversity and obstacles. However, that doesn’t make me any less determined for the future ahead or lessen my ever-growing passion for leading others to success and helping them with their problems. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, and I hope that you will find me the most worthy recipient as I continue my quest to help others and finance my higher education.

I have a passion for bringing out the best in others and ensuring that things go as smoothly as possible. As the primary leader of several organizations (Swim Team, Chess Club, Karate, Boy Scouts, and others), I have great responsibilities to make sure everyone I represent has what they need for success. Whether it’s motivating a teammate in the pool with an encouraging word right before a race or leading the youngest members through the wilderness, I support everyone I can in pursuing their goals. As the president of my school's Chess Club, I help organize competitions and improve weaker players' strategies. In martial arts, I support students by leading classes through techniques and physical training. Boy Scouts has especially enabled me to help young men in the troop. I find Scouts to be a great place for brotherhood, camaraderie, and adventurous fun. Through my Eagle Project, I have been able to give back more to my community by helping build sanctuaries for birds in my area. Birds in my area have had a lot of their natural habitat destroyed, and building birdhouses and other structures helps support the populations and build bird diversity. My support of others isn’t limited to extracurriculars or the classroom. I’ve been called in the late hours of the night for help when someone needs a listening ear or assistance with other issues. Once, I was called at 3:00 AM by someone from school who needed help with a massive homework problem the day before a final exam. I also support the structures of my household due to my parents' travel for work. I regularly drive my siblings to their activities, cook dinner, and handle other household tasks. In order to continue helping others, I plan to pursue a career in public office to represent others and lead. I would especially like to address the growing inequality in the U.S. To help others to my fullest potential, I need to pursue higher education that will help me understand and address these issues. I recently spent my summer at Harvard Summer School studying inequality in an economics class. The experience was amazing and has fully motivated me to pursue higher education. By representing people in government, I could directly influence policies that would help underrepresented communities. The journey I embarked on during my freshman year will undoubtedly be filled with continued adversity and obstacles. However, that doesn’t make me any less determined for the future ahead or lessen my ever-growing passion for leading others to success and helping them with their problems. This scholarship would help limit the amount of financial struggle I would have when attending college. In order to pursue my dream career, as mentioned above, I will need to attend higher education. With that comes the heavy financial burden of going to a top-tier university. This scholarship would help me avoid student loan debt, which would severely limit the amount of good I hope to do in my career. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, and I hope that you will find me a worthy recipient as I continue my quest to help others and finance my higher education.

I bring two full lunches to school with me. I noticed that my friend hadn’t brought a lunch for the past three days during the first week of school. I thought to myself about the times when I hadn’t brought a lunch—because I forgot it at home or simply forgot to make one. If you’ve ever done this, you know it isn’t a pleasant experience, especially if you start your day at 6:00 AM. I asked him if he needed any help, and to my surprise, he was reluctant to admit it. This went on for a few more days—him continuing to deny any need and me insisting on wanting to help. When I was making a meal the day before a new week started, I decided I would bring two lunches anyway. At lunch, I asked him again, and again he turned me down. But when I said I brought two “on accident” and I wanted him to eat it, he eventually did after five minutes of me insisting. From then on, I have brought school lunches for him every day, and most days, I bring cookies as well. The school doesn’t have enough funding to be able to provide a system of school lunches, so I ended up continuing to do it myself. And that is what I have done every day. I heard my mobile ring at 2:00 AM on Tuesday night. I knew that my friend hadn’t been okay since his recent breakup, and I had told him to call at any hour if he ever needed to. It turned out he couldn’t sleep that night and needed someone to talk to about everything that was going wrong in his life. His breakup was only the start of the things he told me that night, and for about two and a half hours, all I did was listen. I gave him some advice on how to deal with some things, and then we both went to sleep, only to wake up an hour later for school. Since high school started, I have seen my friends and acquaintances fall down dark paths of self-destruction, and I have always told them I was someone they could call if they were in trouble. Therefore, I’m not all that surprised if I hear a random phone call late at night because I know someone needs someone to talk to. I do SAT tutoring on the side. I have done reasonably well in academics throughout my life, but I have always tried to help others. When I received an email from College Board saying that I was qualified for an opportunity to help tutor struggling test-takers, I jumped at the chance. I know it sounds cliché, but I get a warm fuzzy feeling like nothing else. I am not saying that I am perfect, for I am far from it. However, I always try to do the best I can to help. Whether it’s when they need someone to talk to, help them out in class, or bring them an extra lunch, I will always be there to help people I see are in need. It would be an honor to win scholarship money to further my education. Winning the Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship would mean a lot to me. Thank you for your consideration!

Though I don't understand a single word of Russian, a song in a language completely foreign to me eases the pressures I face. I recall the first time I listened: I was in bed needing a calming melody, and all I had to do was press play. I discovered ‘Katyusha’ my freshman year of high school, and it has helped me navigate through various challenges ever since. A seven-month period away from family and familiar surroundings, a burnout in December of my junior year, and a narrow escape from an attempted sexual assault were all eased though late nights with this song on repeat. I owe my resilience in many of my hardships to that song. Moreover, the song's message concerning national pride also reflects my own nationality which resonates deeply with my own sense of identity. In certain versions of the song, I get a mental imagery of being in an atomic wasteland in Europe and hearing the melody on a broken music tape. In others, I see a soldier leaving the love of his life in order to sacrifice everything for God and country. Regardless, the main message is always the same: inner strength and determination conquers all. My own journey through life has been heavily influenced by these mental visualizations. Visualizations like these are more than just abstract imagined realities, they serve as powerful sources of inspiration in my life. Even though I don’t understand the lyrics, the song’s message transcends words, demonstrating music’s role in mankind's universal language. That ability for people to communicate without words is what makes all of us special. Universal language is what allowed me to understand the message of ‘Katyusha’ even though I don’t understand Russian. Accepting different cultures and others is another major thing that listening to this song has brought me. By appreciating an unknown culture and language, I can fully appreciate the diversity of the world. Using ‘Katyusha’ as a source of guidance, I turned to it in my most trying moments. Whenever I felt moments of intense homesickness, struggled with my grades in a foreign country, or felt the pressure of sleepless nights, I pressed play. Whether it was dealing with the pain of an attempted sexual assault or the stress of morning practice, ‘Kayusha’ helped me get through it all. I press play every day before I close my eyes and every day when I drive school, moments that require that calming melody. My appreciation of a song that I can't understand showcases my willingness to learn and appreciate different languages and cultures. I have had a lot of international experiences being an immigrant from France, spending 7 months in Spain with a host family, and visiting many other countries around the world. Understanding world culture, different areas of natural beauty, and languages has always been important to me, and ‘Katyusha’ represents that world which I haven’t discovered yet. The song has inspired me to engage more on global issues and use my international experience to help others, share unique cultures, and make a mark of good in other people’s lives. ‘Katyusha’ is more than a simple song. It represents patriotism, cross-cultural connection, and unwavering encouragement in my darkest moments. It has shown me that the only thing truly impossible is stopping me from pressing play.

Currently, my goal is to enter politics after an initial career in the business sector, preferably finance. Ever since I was six years old, I have continuously planned out how to achieve my goals, and every time they changed or evolved, I would adapt or reconstruct my plan. Ever since high school started, I have planned how to get accepted into a top-tier university. The issue is that they all cost a tremendous amount of money, which I don't have. This opportunity would help me unburden myself from financial concerns and concentrate on the actual learning part of college. A top-tier college would greatly help in getting into the career that I want, which is why I strive for these great institutions. I have always treated my education as a stepping stone for future success. My career would start after college, hopefully with a network of future politicians or professionals in the sector, and I would enter a 4-6 year career in business finance. My experience in the industry would prepare me to apply hypotheticals learned in college. With a proficient understanding of the economy and the market, I would campaign for a congressional position. Throughout my political career, I would serve on congressional committees that would link my market knowledge to potential legislation and policy. To finish my career, I aspire to join the President's cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury or Secretary of State. Being able to reach one of the highest levels in the U.S. government would let me reach and help as many people as possible. I would especially like to address the growing inequality in the U.S. To help others to my fullest potential, I need to pursue higher education that will help me understand and address these issues. I recently spent my summer at Harvard Summer School studying inequality in an economics class. The experience was amazing and has fully motivated me to pursue higher education. By representing people in government, I could directly influence policies that would help underrepresented communities. But my success wouldn't just be in my career. I want to start a family, find my soulmate. If I can do all that was mentioned above and still have someone to wake up with every day, I would be truly fulfilled. As I've matured and grown, I've moved away from "The Wolf of Wall Street" as my idea of success and have embraced a more traditional way of determining success. I used to see a life of money and superficial possessions as my only goal in life, but now that I've seen what real happiness comes from, that has changed. I now wish for higher things that are invaluable. What would be the point of life without meaningful love and relationships? Personal success would definitely be defined by the quality of relationships that I have built. This scholarship would thus help me in my career's success by delivering me from the constraints of financial burden. With this scholarship, I would be able to start financing my education and take advantage of my time at college. My journey is characterized by commitment and always giving my all. Personal success is also about knowing that I am giving it my all to win this scholarship, get to a top-tier college, and lead a plentiful life. Winning this scholarship would also be a way for me to know that I am doing something right. In an age where students are competing ruthlessly against each other, I would know that the work I do will not have been in vain. My mother always liked to say that work always pays off. Winning this scholarship would show me that that is true. The work that I have put in my entire life will serve me well for my future. In conclusion, I want to win this scholarship not so that I can have great financial success, but so that I can find personal fulfillment and success in my career. As it is said in Romans 8:18, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." That is what success means to me—knowing that the work I put in, whether on a personal level or a professional one, will pay off.

My leadership has greatly evolved throughout my time with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and subsequently the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). Additional experience mostly comes from routine schoolwork/projects and from sports activities with my swim team. My style emphasizes clear communication and working with the people I guide so that I may lead by example. I always try to make directions and expectations as clear as possible and listen to diverse perspectives without appearing condescending to others. Before my Boy Scout leadership experiences and my NYLT training, my leadership style was very much one of micromanagement due to my lack of trust in younger scouts and a need for control on my part. NYLT instructed me to trust younger scouts to do their tasks and become aware of my micromanagement tendencies. After my instruction at NYLT, I implemented these new strategies in my leadership, and they worked tremendously well. Thinking of an example of when I have put these leadership skills into practice, the week before the biggest swimming championship of the summer came to mind. Last summer, my swim team had expanded its size exponentially, reaching a total of 180 swimmers, with 110 of them being 13 and under. Older and more experienced swimmers were scarce and had created a ‘clique’ with the same group for years. The week leading up to the competition, we were asked to help refine the younger swimmers' strokes. I had been put in charge of a large group, but despite that, I made sure every swimmer received adequate feedback. My coach had also made it clear to us to prioritize getting ‘legal’ swims, meaning ones that wouldn’t get them disqualified. Throughout the week, finer points of their strokes were addressed and improved. At the meet, I was very proud of what we had accomplished as I saw my group implement what we had worked on and not get disqualified. I believe my clear communication and constructive feedback helped lead my group to success at the championship meet. Recently, I have taken up the position of president of my chess club. With that position comes responsibilities. Under this position, I will have to recruit new members, organize tournaments, and help train a proficient team. While this is an arduous task, I fully appreciate it because it enables me to prepare myself for my future and have fun with chess. I am also becoming a managing senior for my club swim team. This will require me to be a leader during practice and help organize swim meets. I am also fully committed to this opportunity as well. I take leadership opportunities very seriously. I see them as an opportunity to shape groups under my leadership into their full potential. While there have been things I have had to improve on, I have always given it my all. The lessons and training that I have learned throughout my life will always help in all of my endeavors. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. I really appreciate your willingness to fund scholarships for students.

Noah Lyles: the iconic sprinter who won gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m. Noah Lyles is my favorite Team USA athlete for a multitude of reasons. But the most important is the fact that he isn’t afraid to speak his mind and express his opinion on controversial subjects. After winning gold at the World Athletics Championships, Lyles called out the NBA for assigning world champion titles to NBA champions. Lyles stated that NBA teams only had to go against teams in Canada and the U.S., unlike track and field. Lyles not being afraid to speak his mind, even though it might offend some people, is something that I deeply respect. His willingness to voice his opinions, especially under the athletic spotlight, makes him a standout figure. On top of everything, Lyles truly embodied the title of 'world champion' by winning gold at the Olympics in the 100m. This Olympic gold reinforces his opinion and brings validity to his argument against the NBA. That is one of my favorite things about him. The fact that he was willing to call out the NBA but also come back and win, which made his argument all the more impressive. Perhaps even more impressive, Lyles won bronze in his signature event, the 200m. Being able to perform at such high levels of pressure while not being in top shape highlights his abilities and resilience. Lyles has also been very open about his personal struggles with mental health and has used the platform he has obtained to speak out for others struggling as well. Lyles has wished to speak out about mental health and his own health struggles. Lyles decided he wouldn’t be limited by things out of his control and brought himself to the top level in athletics. I have personally struggled with mental health and have many friends who have as well. His message is very positive and is really making an impact on people’s lives. Lyles and I share the same personality type. I am a very outgoing person, not afraid to be myself. Seeing him on the world stage reminded me of myself. Like Lyles, I’m never afraid to speak my mind and be honest about things (while still being polite). Lyles has also not let the fame and attention he has received get to his head. Lyles has been very polite with his fans and is consistently seen on social media trying to connect with others. Like Lyles, I also have rivalries. I have maintained a rivalry with my swimming friend for the past 2 years, and this year I finally beat him at the last meet of the year. Having a competitor helps motivate you and shapes you as a person. The fact that Lyles has rivals showcases his willingness to push himself and his levels of achievement in athletics. Lyles’s resilience and charisma have made him one of my favorite athletes of all time. He certainly was one I was watching closely at the Paris Olympics and that continues to inspire me every day. I wish to be able to have the same success, impact, and legacy that Lyles has had on the people around him.

I have a passion for bringing out the best in others and ensuring that things go as smoothly as possible. As the primary leader of several organizations (Swim Team, Chess Club, Karate, Boy Scouts, and others), I have great responsibilities to make sure everyone I represent has what they need for success. Whether it’s motivating a teammate in the pool with an encouraging word right before a race or leading the youngest members through the wilderness, I support everyone I can in pursuing their goals. As the president of my school's Chess Club, I help organize competitions and improve weaker players' strategies. In martial arts, I support students by leading classes through techniques and physical training. Boy Scouts has especially enabled me to help young men in the troop. I find Scouts to be a great place for brotherhood, camaraderie, and adventurous fun. My support of others isn’t limited to extracurriculars or the classroom. I’ve been called in the late hours of the night for help when someone needs a listening ear or assistance with other issues. Once, I was called at 3:00 AM by someone from school who needed help with a massive homework problem the day before a final exam. I also support the structures of my household due to my parents' travel for work. I regularly drive my siblings to their activities, cook dinner, and handle other household tasks. In order to continue helping others, I plan to pursue a career in public office to represent others and lead. I would especially like to address the growing inequality in the U.S. To help others to my fullest potential, I need to pursue higher education that will help me understand and address these issues. I recently spent my summer at Harvard Summer School studying inequality in an economics class. The experience was amazing and has fully motivated me to pursue higher education. By representing people in government, I could directly influence policies that would help underrepresented communities. The journey I embarked on during my freshman year will undoubtedly be filled with continued adversity and obstacles. However, that doesn’t make me any less determined for the future ahead or lessen my ever-growing passion for leading others to success and helping them with their problems. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship, and I hope that you will find me the most worthy recipient as I continue my quest to help others and finance my higher education.